Tool positioning extensible boom

ABSTRACT

An extensible boom, particularly for mounting on a mobile rock breaking or mining machine, comprises an extensible member mounted for rotation about an axis extending in the direction of its length, a non-rotatable extensible member operative to impart extension to said rotatable member of the boom, means for extending the non-rotatable extensible member of the boom and means on said rotatable member of the boom for mounting a rock breaking or other tool thereon so that said tool operates on an axis which is different to said axis of the rotatable member of the boom and is movable relatively thereto. In one preferred arrangement the tool is supported on a tiltable turntable pivotally mounted on the forward end of the boom.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,782,484 Martin Jan. 1, 1974 [5 TOOLPOSITIONING EXTENSIBLE BOOM 3,135,403 6/1964 Przyblyski C! a] 214/141[75] Inventor: Dennis Douglas Martin, Wigan,

England Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser An0rney--Berman, Davidson &Berman [73] Assignee: Dobson Park Industries Limited,

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire,

22] Filed; July 13, 1972 An extensible boom, particularly for mountingon a mobile rock breaking or mining machine, comprises [211 App! 272954an extensible member mounted for rotation about an axis extending in thedirection of its length, a non- [30] F i A li i P i i D rotatableextensible member operative to impart ex- Aug. 4, 1971 Great Britain36622/71 tension to said rotatable member of the boom means forextending the non-rotatable extensible member of 52 us. c1 173/43,248/16 the and means said matahle member the 51 Int. Cl. E216 11/00mOuhhhg rock breaking 531 Field of Search 173/42, 43; 299/70; thereonthat said "PermS an axis which is 214/14; 248/1], 16 dlfferent to saidaxis of the rotatable member of the boom and is movable relativelythereto. In one pre- 56] References Cited ferred arrangement the tool issupported on a tiltable UNITED STATES PATENTS ltjurntable pivotallymounted on the forward end of the 00m. 2,638,326 5/1953 Lehner 173/432,766.012 lO/l956 Hale 173/43 18 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JAN1 I574 sum 1 OF 4 TOOL POSITIONING EXTENSIBLE BOOM This invention is forimprovements in or relating to an extensible boom for carrying andpositioning or guiding a tool.

One particular application of the invention is to a boom for carryingand applying a rock breaking tool to a rock or other mineral face forthe excavation or breaking down thereof.

According to the present invention there is provided an extensible boomin which one extensible member of the boom is also adapted for rotationabout an axis extending in the direction of its length and another andnon-rotatable extensible member of the boom imparts such extension tosaid rotatable member of the boom, means being provided for extendingthe non-rotatable extensible member of the boom, said rotatable memberproviding a mounting for a tool which operates on an axis which isdifferent to said axis of the rotatable member and is movable relativelythereto.

Conveniently, the boom comprises a fixed or stationary outer member, arotatable inner extensible member, a non-rotatable, slideableintermediate extensible member, means for effecting sliding movement ofsaid intermediate member and interengaging or connecting means betweenthe intermediate member and the rotatable inner member whereby they aretogether extended and retracted.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention rotation of the extensibleinner member is effected through a splined drive shaft rotatably mountedon the stationary outer member and on which the inner member isslideable.

One particular embodiment of the invention will now be described, by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of a boom,

FIG. 2 is a more detailed longitudinal elevation of the boom with theupper half in section,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary driving mechanism of theboom shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a mobile rock breaking or mining machinefitted with a boom as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 4.

The boom shown in FIG. 1 comprises a stationary outer cylindrical casing10, an intermediate hollow cylindrical member 11 slideable in the casing10, and an inner hollow cylindrical member 12 slideable and rotatable inthe intermediate member 11. The intermediate member 11 is held againstrotation in the casing by a key 13.

Rotation of the inner member 12 is effected by hydraulic motor 14,mounted on the casing 10, which, through worm and worm-wheel gearing 15and 16, drives a splined shaft 17 on which the inner member 12 isslidably mounted and to which it is keyed for rotation as indicated at18. The worm and worm-wheel gearing is housed in an enlargement 10a ofthe outer casing 10. The worm and worm-wheel gearing has the advantagethat the inner member 12 is automatically locked against rotation exceptwhen the motor 14 is operating because the worm-wheel cannot drive theworm. In-

stead of a worm and worm-wheel a crank and connecting rod arrangementmay be used.

A double-acting hydraulic ram 19 is connected between a lug 20 on thestationary member 10 and a lug 21 on the intermediate member.

Interengaging abutments 22 and 23 are provided between the inner andintermediate members at the rear ends thereof and interengagingabutments 24 and 25 are provided between said members at the forwardends thereof.

When the intermediate member 11 is extended, by extending the ram 19,the abutments 22 and 23 cause the inner rotatable member 12 to beextended. By operating the motor 14 the inner member 12 can be rotated.

Retraction of the intermediate member 111 by the ram 19 will, throughthe abutments 24 and 25, retract the rotatable member 12.

The extending means for the boom (e.g., the ram 19) may be external ofthe fixed member 10 or internal and there may be more than one suchextending means.

The ram 19 can be used as a hydraulic lock to hold the boom againstextension or retraction, the control valve means for the ram beingadapted for that purpose. Similarly the hydraulic motor 14 can beadapted to operate as a hydraulic lock to hold the member 12 againstrotation.

The boom shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 is basically of thesame construction as that above described with reference to FIG. 1 andlike reference numerals have been used to designate like parts.

The mining machine shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is similar in construction,with the exception of the boom, to the machine described in theSpecification of our patent Application Ser. No. 198,365.

Briefly, the machine comprises a walking carriage 27 on which is mounteda chassis 28 and a turntable 29. The turntable 29 supports, for angularmovement about a vertical axis 30, bearing brackets 31 which support,for angular movement about a horizontal axis 32, a bearing bracket 33formed on the enlargement 10a of the outer cylindrical casing 10 of theboom. Thus, the boom is supported on the chassis so that it can beangled both laterally and vertically.

Said lateral angular movement of the boom is effected by a hydraulic ram34 and the vertical angular movement of the boom is effected by ahydraulic ram 35.

The rock breaking equipment 26 comprises a boom extension 36 secured tothe forward end 12a of the rotatable extensible member 12, saidextension having pivotally mounted on its forward end, for adjustmentabout an axis 37, a tiltable turntable 38. Adjustment of the table 38about the axis 37 is effected by a hydraulic ram 39 and about an axis37a by a further ram, not shown. A pressure-fluid operated rock breakingtool 40, which actuates a chisel 26a, is mounted on the table 38 and maybe adjustable therealong. This pressurefluid operated rock breaking toolmay be constructed as described in the Specification of our Applicationfor Patent Ser. No. 218,671.

It will be noted that the table 38 provides a mounting, on the rotatablemember 12 of the boom, for a tool which operates on the axis I-I whichis different from the axis II-II of the rotatable member 12 and ismovable relatively to the said axis IIII. More particularly, the axis IIcan be rotated around the axis II-Il of the boom, by rotating the member12 by the motor 14, and also the axis l-l can be tilted about the pivot37 relative to the axis ll-II.

Thus, to apply the tool 26a to a particular part of a mineral face thereis the ability to raise or lower the boom and swing it laterally, extendor retract the boom, rotate the tool in a circular path about the axisof the boom and tilt the tool outwardly or inwardly, with respect to theboom, about the pivot 37.

I claim:

1. An extensible boom comprising a fixed or stationary outer member, anon-rotatable intermediate extensible member slidably mounted in saidouter member, an inner extensible member mounted in said intermediatemember for rotation about an axis extending in the direction of itslength, means for effecting sliding movement of said intermediatemember, interengaging means between the intermediate member and therotatable inner member whereby they are together extended and retracted,and means on said rotatable member of the boom for mounting a toolthereon so that said tool operates on an axis which is different to saidaxis of the rotatable member of the boom and is movable relativethereto.

2. A boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis of the tool is movableabout the axis of the rotatable member of the boom.

3. A boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis of the tool istiltable with respect to the axis of the rotatable member of the boom.

4. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forextending the non-rotatable extensible member of the boom is apressure-fluid-ram.

5. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatableextensible member of the boom is slidable on a splined shaft providedwith means whereby it can be rotated.

6. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation of theextensible inner member is effected by a drive shaft rotatably mountedon the stationary outer member and on which drive shaft the inner memberis slidable and to which it is keyed.

7. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation of therotatable extensible member of the boom is effected by a motor.

8. An extensible boom as claimed in claim ll, wherein rotation of theinner member is effected by a motor mounted on the fixed or stationaryouter member.

9. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation of therotatable extensible member of the boom is effected through worm andworm-wheel gearing.

10. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein a double-actingpressure-fluid ram, for extending the intermediate member of the boom,is connected between said member and the fixed or stationary outermember.

11. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein interengagingabutments are provided between the inner member and intermediate memberat the rear ends thereof and between said members at the forward endsthereof whereby extension and retraction of the intermediate memberextends and retracts the inner member.

12. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, and having, pivotallymounted on its forward end, support means for a tool.

13. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 12, wherein said supportmeans includes a tiltable turntable.

14. A boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the extensiblemembers may be held against extension or retraction or the rotatablemember may be held against rotation.

15. A booni as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of theextensible members is held against extension or retraction or therotatable member is held against rotation by making provision for ahydraulic lock in hydraulic operating means for said members.

16. A boom as claimed in claim 14, wherein a driving motor for therotatable member is geared to said member by a mechanism which lockssaid member against rotation except when said driving motor is inoperation.

17. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1 and having rock breakingequipment mounted on its forward end.

18. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 17 and having means mountingit on a mobile rock breaking or mining machine.

1. An extensible boom comprising a fixed or stationary outer member, anon-rotatable intermediate extensible member slidably mounted in saidouter member, an inner extensible member mounted in said intermediatemember for rotation about an axis extending in the direction of itslength, means for effecting sliding movement of said intermediatemember, inter-engaging means between the intermediate member and therotatable inner member whereby they are together extended and retracted,and means on said rotatable member of the boom for mounting a toolthereon so that said tool operates on an axis which is different to saidaxis of the rotatable member of the boom and is movable relativethereto.
 2. A boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis of the toolis movable about the axis of the rotatable member of the boom.
 3. A boomas claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis of the tool is tiltable withrespect to the axis of the rotatable member of the boom.
 4. Anextensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for extendingthe non-rotatable extensible member of the boom is a pressure-fluid ram.5. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatableextensible member of the boom is slidable on a splined shaft providedwith means whereby it can be rotated.
 6. An extensible boom as claimedin claim 1, wherein rotation of the extensible inner member is effectedby a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the stationary outer member and onwhich drive shaft the inner member is slidable and to which it is keyed.7. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation of therotatable extensible member of the boom is effected by a motor.
 8. Anextensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation of the innermember is effected by a motor mounted on the fixed or stationary outermember.
 9. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation ofthe rotatable extensible member of the boom is effected through worm andworm-wheel gearing.
 10. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1,wherein a double-acting pressure-fluid ram, for extending theintermediate member of the boom, is connected between said member andthe fixed or stationary outer member.
 11. An extensible boom as claimedin claim 1, wherein interengaging abutments are provided between theinner member and intermediate member at the rear ends thereof andbetween said members at the forward ends thereof whereby extension andretraction of the intermediate member extends and retracts the innermember.
 12. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 1, and having,pivotally mounted on its forward end, support means for a tool.
 13. Anextensible boom as claimed in claim 12, wherein said support meansincludes a tiltable turntable.
 14. A boom as claimed in claim 1, whereinat least one of the extensible members may be held against extension orretraction or the rotatable member may be held against rotation.
 15. Aboom as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the extensiblemembers is held against extension or retraction or the rotatable memberis held against rotation by making provision for a hydraulic lock inhydraulic operating means for said members.
 16. A boom as claimed inclaim 14, wherein a driving motor for the rotatable member is geared tosaid member by a mechanism which locks said member against rotationexcept when said driving motor is in operation.
 17. An extensible boomas claimed in claim 1 and having rock breaking equipment mounted on itsforward end.
 18. An extensible boom as claimed in claim 17 and havingmeans mounting it on a mobile rock breaking or mining machine.